Friday, September 6, 2013

NO CIRCUS TODAY


Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, September 5, 1896.

NO CIRCUS TO-DAY.

SO MUCH WIND THAT BARNUM DID NOT SHOW.

Fears of the Cyclone Experience of July 23, 1884, Which Cost the Show Over

$20,000-Tents Were Half Full, but Money Was Refunded -Everybody Disappointed- No Circus To-night.

   For a second time within a generation the Barnum & Bailey "Greatest Show on Earth" has pitched its tents in Cortland and has failed to go through with its performance. The other time was on July 23, 1884, when the cyclone descended on the tents and picked them up from the ground and then threw them back again, while nineteen people were badly hurt, many others slightly so, and thousands were terribly frightened. For years after that the Barnum circus gave Cortland a wide berth and declined to come near the town.

   The second time when there was no show was this afternoon. This time the performance had not begun, but the wind was high and the clouds threatening. Early this morning the town began to fill with people. It seemed as though half of Cortland county was here, and a considerable proportion of adjoining counties. Many arrived early to see the show unload. After the parade, which was concluded about 10:30 o'clock the crowd surged down to the grounds to look over the tents, the horses, the show people and if for no other reason to be near the show itself. By 12:30 o'clock the thousands were again headed toward the show grounds and by 1 o'clock the tents were rapidly filling.

   But the wind was coming up. There were whirling clouds of dust. The rain clouds above were thick and heavy. About 1:30 o'clock one of the managers went through the tents and announced that they had decided to give no afternoon exhibition. They were afraid of the weather. They had had one experience with wind in Cortland and that had cost them $20,000. They didn't care to repeat it. The ground was soft and the land stony and if the wind should increase the posts holding the guy ropes would not hold. They were sorry to disappoint the people, but it was a measure of safety. The money would be refunded at the doors.

   Then there was a rush for the gates. The jam for tickets was nothing like the jam for money, and it was pretty largely free silver too, for the money was almost entirely refunded in silver. The carryalls which had been reaping a harvest in carrying people to the show grounds almost doubled their money in carrying them back again, for many who had walked to the grounds were anxious to ride back again to get in out of the wet. But the rain was no respecter of persons. Before half the crowd had got away it began to fall in torrents. After every one had been well soaked down by the first burst it settled into a steady drizzle which continued up to the time The STANDARD went to press.

   It was too bad that the storm should come on this day, and it was too bad to disappoint so many, but it was wise to be prudent. The wind did not prove to be sufficient to have torn down tents, but it is really better that some people should be disappointed than that there should be a repetition of the experiences of twelve years ago.

   The tents were to-day located upon Owego-st. across the street from where the cyclone found them before. A word of explanation is due at this time as to the fact that The STANDARD announced that the circus would exhibit on the Allport lot on Tompkins-st. Mr. Dean, an advance agent of the show, was in Cortland last Saturday and requested us to publish the item as to the location of the tents, saying he had himself seen the contract that afternoon which had been made by another agent who had preceded him. All the contracts, however, read that so much will be paid for the use of the land, if used. When the man arrived yesterday afternoon to stake out the lot for the tents other arrangements were made, but it was too late to give notice of the change. Still there is never any trouble but that a circus will be found.

   The parade was one of the best ever seen in Cortland. It was nearly a mile long and presented all the various things that were advertised and was worth going a long distance to see. It was a beautiful spectacle. It was artistically and attractively arranged and it was gorgeous with color. The sleek horses gave evidence of excellent care, while the caged animals also had the appearance of being well groomed and well fed. There were more than the usual number of open cages. The usual monotony of gilded cages was broken by troops of riders mounted on gaily caparisoned horses and with herds of camels, rare specimens of wild cattle and droves of elephants. Another novel feature of the parade was squads [of] cavalry representing every nation of the earth.

   There were in the parade 234 horses, 32 ponies, 3 zebras, 5 mules, 7 camels and 19 elephants. It may be of interest to know the color of the horses and ponies. The horses were bay 88, gray 68, black 35, chestnut 31, sorrel 9, cream 3. Of the ponies there were: bay 10, black 10, gray 6, spotted 8, sorrel 2, cream 1.

   At 3 o'clock this afternoon the elephants, camels and other animals on foot were taken down to the [railroad] cars and loaded. At 4 o'clock the cages followed. It was then officially announced to The STANDARD that there would be no show to-night. The circus trains will soon start for Syracuse.




The Cortland News, Friday, July 25, 1884
Cyclone in Cortland.
BARNUM'S TENT COLLAPSES. NONE KILLED BUT SEVERAL WOUNDED.
ALL RECOVERING AT LAST ACCOUNTS.


 
   Wednesday morning the valley of Cortland was wet with heavy dew, but that did not prevent a lively thundershower falling about 7 o'clock. As the day advanced the heat became so intense as to change the mud into dust, and when the people were going to Barnum's tents on Owego street the dust, moved by a light west wind, flew in gusts, while the heat seemed like that from a furnace, the clouds being much scattered.

   About 12,000 persons were in the circus tent. Nearly 3 o'clock had arrived, and the people were enjoying the wonderful feats in the rings, when darkness settled upon the audience and became "visible," as it were, and many timid ones left. Evidently a storm was at hand. To prepare for it the canvas about the tour main or center poles was lowered and drawn taut. The elephants which had been performing were ordered out before their acts were completed. Three race horses with riders cantered around the ring to take positions. Rain had begun to fall in torrents. The horses were ordered out of the tent. Suddenly a terrific gust of wind tore across the tent from the southwest, lifted the canvas about the south center pole, and tore up the fastenings.
   Men rushed forward and grasped the ropes, and the order, "Hold on to them," was heard. The next act in the bewildering scene was the violent flappings of the tent just north of the dressing-room on the east side and the flying of poles, stakes and chains in every direction outside and among the people in the immediate vicinity. The audience had risen to their feet, and the order came, "Keep your seats," but who ever knew a panic-stricken crowd to obey a sensible order. The people rushed from the tent or sank between the seats and so beneath the canvas and out into the furious storm, where they speedily became drenched. A few only remained in the tent, but they soon left as it was feared that the poles might fall. All being out the canvas was lowered to the ground.

   The menagerie tent was standing, and thither many flocked, but the elephants were very uneasy and fearing a stampede the people were advised to go out. At the onset of the storm the cages had all been secured, so no danger was feared from the animals.
   Several persons had been injured, but the managers and employees, who had acted quickly but coolly, with Mr. Hutchinson to direct, procured carriages and took them to the residences of physicians for examination and treatment. In the meantime all sorts of exaggerated reports were spread by persons who knew nothing of the facts, and who if they did not willfully lie, must have depended on their imagination. Anywhere from thirty-five or forty to two hundred or more had been killed according to these reports, and so chief engineer Cleary, hearing that the tent had blown down and buried the crowd beneath it and that help was needed, ordered the fire-bell rung. This created intense excitement, and hundreds of persons rode and ran to the grounds only to find their services not needed.

   After the people got out of the tent they ran in every direction to escape an expected stampede of the animals. The buildings in the vicinity were quickly filled, many persons struck out for the woods on the hill nearby, while others stopped not until they had reached their homes in the opposite parts of the village. No other tent was injured, and but a small part of the circus tent, but all were at once taken down and sent to Binghamton, where an exhibition was given on Thursday.

   With the exception of a few who were bruised, the employees of the circus escaped uninjured. They all behaved with admirable coolness, and it was owing to this that the damage to life and property was not greater.
   Many had already purchased tickets for the evening entertainment but the money for these was refunded. Very many persons were injured, but only a few that could be called seriously so. Of the latter were Cornelius Brown of Marathon, both bones of whose forearm were fractured, back and chest hurt and bruises on various parts of his body; Vin. Hicks of Cold Brook, concussion of brain; M. B. Hurlbut of Cuyler, concussion of brain and chest injured; Dell Tarbell of McGrawville, concussion of brain; Ed. Stillson of Cortland, blow on neck, partially unconscious for a few hours; Mrs. Hannah Keefe, an elderly lady of Cuyler, upper part of body cut and bruised.

   J. French of Killawog, Maggie Miles and Frank Dearman of Homer, Milton Wavle of Freetown, Asa Gates of Truxton, Willie Shufelt of Cuyler, Lyman Olmstead of Groton, Asa Gates, Jr. of East Homer, and  Mrs. George Sherman, George A. Fairbanks, Elpha Adams, Lloyd Richardson, James Sheridan, S. C. Shultz, and Edward Rood, of this village, were either cut or bruised about the head or neck, and some of them quite severely. We are glad to learn that all will probably recover, though in the case of Mr. Brown, Mr. Hicks, and Mrs. Keefe, some time will elapse.
 
   Drs. Hyde, Dana, Henry, Bolles, and others of our physicians were kept busy that evening attending to the wants of the injured, the most of whom were taken to their homes at once.

   The managers of the show gave orders to spare no pains or expense in caring for the wounded, and Mr. Hutchinson was in Cortland on Thursday to look up the cases in person. He placed them in the hands of Judge Smith and John Courtney, Jr., for settlement, stating that though not legally responsible, the management desired to pay all expenses, loss of wages, physicians' fees, etc. They intend to visit Cortland again, and were unwilling to leave any ill feeling behind.

   All accounts from those who saw the storms (for there were two of them, coming in opposite directions) centering on Cortland, shows that unusual violence from the elements was anticipated, but no one thought for a moment that a whirlwind would strike a small part of the huge circus tent. Nothing less, however, can explain the terrific force manifested and the disastrous results.


The Cortland News, Friday, December 5, 1884.

Barnum Sued.

   Last week Cornelius C. Brown, of Marathon, through his attorneys, Messrs. Duell & Benedict, of this place, sued Messrs. Barnum. Bailey & Hutchinson, proprietors of the Barnum and London shows for $10,000 damages on account of injuries received by him through the blowing down of the tent during the exhibition in Cortland, in July last. He was severely injured in various ways by the accident, and it is claimed that he is crippled for life. The plaintiff's attorneys claim negligence on the part of Barnum, Bailey & Hutchinson, in not providing a suitable tent, properly constructed. They claim that the liabilities of the show proprietors are the same as those of a railroad company in taking passengers. The Barnum company have twenty days in which to serve an answer. Judge A. P. Smith will defend them.






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